Brian McEniff
Encyclopedia
Brian McEniff is known in Ireland as being a successful Gaelic football
manager.
, County Monaghan
, and Elizabeth Begley from Carrickmore
, County Tyrone
, and were married in Bundoran
in 1935. Brian has three brothers: P.J. McEniff (retired dentist), Seán McEniff (Donegal County Councillor) and Liam McEniff (Doctor), and one sister, Mary McGlynn (retired Hotel accountant).
"From the age of eight or nine my mother had me washing dishes on a biscuit tin at the Holyrood, " Brian said in Tribune interview in 2004.
Brian went to Bundoran Primary School. At the age of 12 he attended St. Macarten’s College, a boarding school, in Monaghan Town. Following this, at the age of 17, he went to Cathal Burgha Street College in Dublin where he studied Hotel Management for three years.
In 1962 he went to Canada
in order to gain valuable work experience, and worked for four years in the Royal York Hotel in Toronto
. It was there that he met and married Catherine O’Leary, a Cork
natice, and they went on to have three children while living in Canada. Brian returned to Ireland
in 1966 and got involved in the Donegal GAA, playing at the Donegal County level, on the same team as the current Donegal County Manager (the most senior civil servant with Donegal County Council), Michael McLoone.
manager in County Donegal
, Ulster
, Ireland
. His success culminated in 1992 when he led his native Donegal team
to glory at Croke Park
in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
final against Dublin.
In 2003 Brian brought the Donegal team to The All Ireland Semi Final. In this year he was also in charge of the County Team, and he also managed the Ulster Team from 1983 to 2007. Under his leadership Ulster won 13 Railway Cup Finals
. In 1975 he assisted of the Sligo Team and achieved victory when they won the Connacht
Championship. He has also managed the Irish Compromise Rules team in 2000 and 2001. They went to Australia
in October 2001 where they won their games against the Australian Team and he also served on The GAA
Central Council.
McEniff's stood down from his position as Ulster manager in 2007, 25 years after taking the job in 1982.
In his playing career, he was player Manager of the first Donegal team to win an Ulster Championship
title in 1972, and was also the recipient of an All-Star award in 1972.
He is also the recipient of an GAA All Stars Awards
in 1972 and has won numerous titles with his home club of Bundoran, the famous St. Joseph's combination of Bundoran and Ballyshannon, Donegal and Ulster.
He won his last county championship with Bundoran in 1979, which included the late Brendan McHugh and Seamus Reilly, both county representaives for Sligo, Mayo and Donegal.
He was mentor to Nell McCafferty on the Celebrity Bainisteoir
TV programme in 2007.
In 2010 he helped Louth
manager Peter Fitzpatirck in an advisory capacity.
On the 7th June 1979 Brian McEniff was elected onto Donegal County Council in lieu of his older brother Sean McEniff. Even though his father was a strong Fine Gael supporter, his mother was Fianna Fáil.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
manager.
Early Life
Brian's Parents were Mr. John McEniff from NewblissNewbliss
Newbliss , historically known as Lisdaragh , is a village and townland in County Monaghan, Ireland. It is located where the R183 and R189 regional roads intersect...
, County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and Elizabeth Begley from Carrickmore
Carrickmore
Carrickmore is a village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies in the heart of the county on an raised site colloquially called "The Rock"; between Cookstown, Dungannon and Omagh. It had a population of 612 in the 2001 Census.-History:...
, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, and were married in Bundoran
Bundoran
Bundoran is a town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. The town is located on the N15 road near Ballyshannon, 3 hours drive from Dublin and around two and a quarter hours drive from Belfast...
in 1935. Brian has three brothers: P.J. McEniff (retired dentist), Seán McEniff (Donegal County Councillor) and Liam McEniff (Doctor), and one sister, Mary McGlynn (retired Hotel accountant).
"From the age of eight or nine my mother had me washing dishes on a biscuit tin at the Holyrood, " Brian said in Tribune interview in 2004.
Brian went to Bundoran Primary School. At the age of 12 he attended St. Macarten’s College, a boarding school, in Monaghan Town. Following this, at the age of 17, he went to Cathal Burgha Street College in Dublin where he studied Hotel Management for three years.
In 1962 he went to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in order to gain valuable work experience, and worked for four years in the Royal York Hotel in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. It was there that he met and married Catherine O’Leary, a Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
natice, and they went on to have three children while living in Canada. Brian returned to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1966 and got involved in the Donegal GAA, playing at the Donegal County level, on the same team as the current Donegal County Manager (the most senior civil servant with Donegal County Council), Michael McLoone.
Brian McEniff and the GAA
Brian McEniff is a Gaelic footballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
manager in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. His success culminated in 1992 when he led his native Donegal team
Donegal GAA
The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.Gaelic football is strongest in the...
to glory at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
final against Dublin.
In 2003 Brian brought the Donegal team to The All Ireland Semi Final. In this year he was also in charge of the County Team, and he also managed the Ulster Team from 1983 to 2007. Under his leadership Ulster won 13 Railway Cup Finals
Interprovincial Championship
The Interprovincial Championship or Railway Cup is the name of two annual Gaelic football and hurling competetitions held between the provinces of Ireland. The Munster, Leinster, Connacht and Ulster teams are composed of the best players from the various counties in the province...
. In 1975 he assisted of the Sligo Team and achieved victory when they won the Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
Championship. He has also managed the Irish Compromise Rules team in 2000 and 2001. They went to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in October 2001 where they won their games against the Australian Team and he also served on The GAA
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
Central Council.
McEniff's stood down from his position as Ulster manager in 2007, 25 years after taking the job in 1982.
In his playing career, he was player Manager of the first Donegal team to win an Ulster Championship
Ulster Championship
Ulster Championship may refer to a number of Gaelic games competitions in Ulster:*Inter-county Gaelic football competitions:**Ulster Senior Football Championship**Ulster Under-21 Football Championship**Ulster Minor Football Championship...
title in 1972, and was also the recipient of an All-Star award in 1972.
He is also the recipient of an GAA All Stars Awards
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
in 1972 and has won numerous titles with his home club of Bundoran, the famous St. Joseph's combination of Bundoran and Ballyshannon, Donegal and Ulster.
He won his last county championship with Bundoran in 1979, which included the late Brendan McHugh and Seamus Reilly, both county representaives for Sligo, Mayo and Donegal.
He was mentor to Nell McCafferty on the Celebrity Bainisteoir
Celebrity Bainisteoir
Celebrity Bainisteoir is a prime-time reality programme produced for Radio Telefís Éireann, which was produced by Animo Television/Kite Entertainment...
TV programme in 2007.
In 2010 he helped Louth
Louth GAA
The Louth County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Louth GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Louth. The county board is also responsible for the Louth inter-county teams....
manager Peter Fitzpatirck in an advisory capacity.
Brian McEniff Business Interests
Brian is Director of the McEniff Hotels including the Holyrood Hotel (originally bought by his father John in 1951) and the Great Northern Hotel & Golf links (bought from CIE in 1977 by Brian & Sean McEniff and Brians Brother in law Michael Burke for £125,000). In 1969 Brian bought the Hamilton Hotel which was next door to the Holyrood Hotel.On the 7th June 1979 Brian McEniff was elected onto Donegal County Council in lieu of his older brother Sean McEniff. Even though his father was a strong Fine Gael supporter, his mother was Fianna Fáil.